Quins composite cricket team relishes unofficial outing against Eagles

AT about noon last Friday, 24 February, the Durban and District Cricket Union officially announced the cancellation of all fixtures under its jurisdiction with the exception of the Premier Reserve League, citing rain on Thursday which made fields too damp to prepare on Friday.

However, both Lt Park at Fynnland and Harlequins at Van Riebeeck Park in Garcin Place were in sublime condition, courtesy of the endeavours of Ethekwini Parks South maintenance team.

This allowed Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club to organise its own matches, in order to enhance a generally poor fixture schedule. There were some fixture anomalies in some leagues this season, resulting in excessive numbers of byes. Division five was negatively affected by the withdrawal of teams and U11 stream south league was negatively impacted by a multitude of cancellations and postponements resulting from festivals, a walk over, a dispute of result from the non-arrival of opposition during partially inclement conditions.

KZNCU stream one challenge league was profoundly affected with the forced elevation of Umlazi Cricket Club, who ended up third in Stream Two of the KZNCU Challenge League after the unfortunate Hillary Malvern who ended up second, were unfairly overlooked for promotion at the termination of the previous season. The additional elevation of Umlazi Cricket Club caused an odd number of teams to participate in the KZNCU Stream One Challenge league, the consequence of which was the creation of byes each weekend for the duration of the entire season, something cricket players loathe.

Also adding to the quandary of fixtures was the number of withdrawn teams in the lower leagues, which was disproportionate to previous seasons, primarily through bad planning by club management and broken promises by individuals. Fortunately Quins has never withdrawn any teams from the leagues and has always met its fixture obligations.

On Saturday the club hosted an internal friendly match at Lt King Park, in an effort to provide the sixth team with some valuable match time, in preparation for their two remaining division five encounters against Simplex Reservoir Hills Cricket Club’s seventh and sixth teams. Credit to Keith Baxter for arranging and the committed Saturday team members for participating.

Eric Cavanagh compiled a composite team from members of the first, fourth and fifth sides, to participate in an unofficial 20-over-a-side match against formidable opposition in Isipingo Eagles. The Quins wicket was wonderful as usual, outfield was outstanding and the atmosphere was awesome. In ideal overcast bowling conditions, Isipingo eagles managed a score of Nelson, with some big hitting batsmen coming good near the termination of Eagles’ innings. Paceman Clinton Abrahams delivered with good velocity. Seamer Rayven Price was sensational in his three overs at the end, taking a hoard of wickets.

For Quins, opening batsman Mark Baronet held firm for a long while, supported with small contributions by the middle order to take the team to about a dozen or so runs shy of their target. This was an insignificant result for a match which more than achieved its objective of providing players with valuable game time. Moreover, it provides irrefutable credence to some Quins teams, who tend to sit by the wayside and to another club, who mistakenly perceive themselves as being enigmatic, that Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club is indeed vibrant and has a plenty to offer its members and aspiring members.

The first game of autumn is the sixth team’s 30 over match against Simplex RHCSC at Siripat Road 2 on Saturday, 4 March at 1.30pm. The first team takes on Simplex RHCSC in a 50 over stream one challenge league match at Siripat Road 1 from 9am. The fourth team take on Clares 3 at Cato Manor 4 at 1.30pm. The fifth team is scheduled to play a division three game against KwaDabeka at Bayview at 1.30pm. This match will likely be officially amended to be played at Harlequins.

Participating in division one, the third team has completed its fixtures for the current season.

The clubs annual awards event will take place at the Combined Harlequins Sports Club on Friday from 6.30pm.

Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for further club information.